Bolster



v'Peli 4,41936; w. c. HDGcocK BOLSTER Filed Jan. 2s, 19

Patented Feb. 4, 1936 amm' William C. Hedgcock, Wilmette, 11|., aligner to f American Steel li'ounalr'ies, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New Jersey y Application January 23, 1931,` SerialNo. 510,596

11 Claims. (Cl. 10S-230) The invention relates to holsters and particularly to cast steely truck bolsters.

In the` improved formfoi bolster disclosedin applicants Patent No. 1,969,131, granted August 7,1934, the bolster structure is shownastbraced n and ribbed for strength and stiffness underv vertical loads with' the 4bracing continuing through the structure to greatly reinforce it for carrying eccentric loads aswhenconcentrated on one o side bearing.y Although the form of bolster set out-in the above patent has been found satisfactoryin fulfilling the requirements for strength and stillness, its yuse is somewhat limited to the form of brakey mechanism employed. The pres- 15 ent invention is therefore generally concerned with.` the provision of a bolster which willbe independent of the brake construction used and which in addition will be primarily suitedlfor association with a special type of brake.

20 Another object lof the invention is toprovide a vcast steel bolsterjhaving improvedbracing structure for `reinforcingthe same against collapsing tendencies and Awhich will incorporate means adapting thesame for use with aspecial c 25 formof brake mechanism.l

Yet a'nother object is to provide a cast steel adapting the same forl use with specialbrake 301 vertical and transverse movement' of the bolster relative to the brake connections.

` A'yet further object is to provide a bolster having the maximum depth at the center and side bearings to insure maximumstrength, and 35 lwhich will accommodate brake connections allowing ypassage of the connecting rods through thebolster.

- -v Another' object is to provide :af bolster incorl porating truss structure principles and which 40 will fulfill all vrequirements of practical manufacture and'service.

- With rthese and various other objects in view,

the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation, as will be more 45 .fully described 'and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawing and claims appended hereto.4 f 'v f .1 In the drawing, which illustrates an embodiment of the device andwherein like reference` fcharacters are used to designate like partsn Figure 1 is aside elevation, half in section, ot the improved truck bolster;

Figure 2 is atop pian viewioi a bolster illustrated in Figure i;

k525 Figure3isasectionalviewoioneendofthe bolster 'ofv the type described'having means for bolster taken substantially on the plane indicated rbyline 3 3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4isasectionalviewthroughthe center oi' the bolster.

The improved structure consists essentially in 5 a hollow box girder having a center plate or ,bearing-y rIl 'deiined by a circular rim lI2 upon whichthe weighty of the car body is normally l carried, in combination with side bearings I4 and spring seats I6. The top wall of the bolster comprises the center plate Il or bearing, the

portions .I8 vbetween the Acenter plate and the side bearings, the side bearings I4, and the extensions 2lv toward-,the-ends of the bolster which serve as the compression member. The bottom wall of the bolster serves as the tension member and comprises vvthe substantially straight and horik zontal central portion 22 extending rbeneath the centralk box strut structure 24 and continuing lin the substantially straight diagonal portions 26, which'merge with the spring seats I6. The strut 24 ris located beneath the center plate extending between positions substantially beneath the rim I2 and continuing from the top wall to the bottom wall of the bolster. Integrally join- 25 ing the 'web-members 3l of the strut and positioned substantially ntrally of the same are portions 32 forming a seat for supporting the mechanism with provision being made ior'they g n inthe center plate. 30

center pin -invalignment with the aperture 34 ,from the top, wall to the` bottom wall of the bolster is provided a substantially semi-circular side bearing strut 3l, the strut being provided with flanges 4I joining the same with the bottom 35 wall 26 and connecting with the upwardly sloping braces or webs 36 adjacent the upperends of rsaid struts. Said braces extend longitudinally of the bolster and merge with the compression member Il at a point adjacent the central strut 40 24. Thel ends of the bolster are provided with vertical ribs 42 extending from points under the side bearing I4 as at 44 to the end of the extensions 2II vertically downward, joining with the m11 comprising the spring seats is. 45

struts 38' and thel center at the lightening holes 60.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a bolster which will incorporate means adapting the same for use with special brake mechanism, whereby the connecting rods of the brake mechanism can be centrally located in a plane passing through the bolster. For this purpose the side walls 46 are provided with a plurality of spaced openings 54, located an equal distance from the center line of the bolster and within the portion of the vside walls defined by the strut 24. Both side walls 46 are provided with similar openings in alignment with each other, and for forming an unobstructed passage through the bolster, the longitudinally extending web members 30 of the center plate strut are likewise provided with similar openings 56 located an equal distance from the center line of the bolster and in alignment with openings 54. The disposition of the openings forms a center post having a plurality of spaced pillars, one of which is on the transverse center line of the bolster-whereby adequate strength is provided even though a large amount of metal is `removed by providing the openings. Additional openings for accommodating the pull rods of the brake mechanism are provided and include the openings 58 located in the side walls 46 atan equal distance from the central line of the bolster and disposed wholly below the bottom edge of the braces 36. Said openings are preferably between the struts 38 and the lightening holes 6I which holes are disposed between -the center bearing Ill and the side bearings I4, the braces 38 forming depending reinforcements for the upper chord adjacent said lightening holes. In use it is only necessary to provide the bolster with one opening 54 and one opening 58, but for the purpose of symmetry and to make the bolster right and left, the openings are provided on both sides of the center line as shown.

` An important feature of this bolster is the construction of the broad center plate strut whereby it embraces the openings for passage of the brake rods. `The broad strut 24 provides, a firm support for the center plate, and, bydistributing the center plate load over an extended area on the tension member, embracing the brake rod openings 56, the tension member is so supported and reinforced thatv its strength is not impaired by the presence of the openings 54 in the side walls. Also the tension member 22, following a substantially straight line betweenthe bases of the strut 24, is subjected principally to direct tension stresses and the bending stresses therein are reduced which also compensates for the presence of the openings;54. Furthermore the webs 30 about the vinterior openingsSG provide a further reinforcement for the structure adjacent the brake rod openings. y Y

It is to be understood that I do not Wislh to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown, which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation, as various and other'forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim: Y 1. In a bolster, the combination oftop and bottom chords and connecting side walls forming substantially a box section, a center bearing on the upper or said chords, a center post connecting said chords, side bearings on the upper of said chords spaced from said center bearing, lightening holes in said upper chord intermediate the post may be provided center and side bearings, struts'adjacent said side bearings and connecting said chords, aligned apertures in the spaced side Walls intermediate the upper and lower chords and between said lightening holes and said struts, said struts each having a brace extending longitudinally of said bolster and depending from said upper chord, the lower edge of each of said braces merging into its respective strut adjacent the top thereof and disposed wholly above said apertures whereby said apertures are adapted-to permit the'unrestricted passage of brake rigging through the bolster.

2. Ina bolster, the combination of a body portion having upper and lower chords and connecting side walls forming substantially a box section, a center bearing on one of said chords, a center postl connecting said chords and having an openy ing therein, said center post being of substantially greater width than said center bearing for compensating for the reduction in metal due to the provision of said opening in said post, and said side walls each having an opening aligned with said first named opening for permitting the unrestricted passage of brake mechanism through said bolster. f.

3. yIn a bolster, the combination of abody portion having upper and lower chords and connecting side walls forming substantially a box section. center and side bearings on one of said chords, a center post connecting saidchords and having an opening therein, said center-post being of substantially greater width than said center bearing for compensating for the reduction in metal due to the provision of said opening in said post, said opening beingav adapted to permit the passage of brake mechanism therethrough, said side walls having aligned yopenings therein adjacent said side bearings and spaced from said center .post for permittingthe unrestricted passage of brake mechanism through said openings.

4. In a bolster, the combination of a body portion having upper and lower chords and connect-v .a center post of substantially greater width than said center bearing, said center post having openings therein disposed on each'side of the transverse center line of said bolster, whereby a `plurality of supporting pillars are provided, one of said pillars being on said transverse center line, said side walls having openings therein aligned with the openingsin said center post for permitting the unrestricted passage of brake mechanism through said bolster.

5.V In a bolster, the combination of a Abody portion having upper and lower chords, one of said chords having center and side bearings, means connecting said chords including a center post of substantially greater width than said center bearing, said center post having openings therein for permitting the unrestricted passage of brake mechanism through said bolster, said openings being disposed on each side of the transverse center linevof said bolster, whereby a plurality of supporting pillars are provided, one of said pillars being on said transverse center line.

6. Ina bolster, the combinationofa body portion having upper and lower chords, and connecting-side walls forming substantially a box section, center and side bearings on one of said chords, a center post connecting said chords and having an opening therein, saidcenter post being of substantially greater width than said center bearing for compensating for the reduction in metal due to the provision of said opening in said post, and said side walls each having an opening aligned with said ilrst named opening, said side walls having aligned openings therein adjacent said side bearings and spaced from said center post, each of said openings permitting the unrestricted passage of brake mechanism through said bolster. 7. In a bolster, the combination of a body portion having upper and lower chords, and connecting side walls forming substantially a box section, center and side bearings on one o! said chords, a center post connecting said chords and having an opening therein, said center post being of substantially greater width than said center bearing for compensating for the reduction in metal due to the provision of said opening in said post, and said side walls each having an opening aligned with said first named opening, said side walls having aligned openings therein adjacent said side bearings and spaced from said center post, each of said openings permitting the unrestricted passage of brake mechanism through said bolster, and strut connecting said upper and lower chords adjacent said side bearings. I

8.. In a bolster, the combination of a body portion having upper and lower chords, and connectingr side walls forming'substantially a box section, center and side bearings on one of said chords, a center post connecting said chords and having an opening therein, said center post being oi substantially greater width than said center bearing for compensating for the reduction in metal due to the provision of said opening in said post, and said side walls each having an opening aligned with said rst named opening, said side walls having aligned openings therein adjacent said side bearings and spaced from said center post, each of said openings permitting the unrestricted passage of brake mechanism through said bolster, and struts connecting said upper and lower chords adiacent said side bearings, and merging into one of said chords adjacent said center bearing, said struts being disposed to substantially clear said openings.

9. In a bolster, the combination of a body portion having upper and lower chords and connecting side walls forming substantially a box section, a center bearing on one o f said chords, a center post connecting said chords, said center post including spaced verticalv webs connected'by struts adjacent the ends thereof, said webs and said side walls each having an opening, said openings being aligned for permitting the unrestricted passage of brake mechanism through said bolster, the length of said center post adjacent the opening therein being substantially longer than the g diameter of the center bearing to compensate for the reduction of metal due to the provision oi' the opening in each of said webs.

10. In a bolster, the combination oi a body portion having upper and lower chords and connecting side walls forming substantially a box section, one of said chords having center and side bearings, means connecting said chords including a center post, said center post including spaced vertical webs connected by struts adjacent the ends thereof, said webs and said side walls each having spaced openings, said openings being aligned and disposed on each side of the transverse center line of said bolster for permitting the unrestricted passage of brake mechanism through said bolster, the length of said center post adjacent the openings therein being substantially longer than the diameter of the center bearing to compensate for the reduction of metal due to the provision of the openings in each of said webs.

11. In a bolster, the combination of top and bottom chords and connecting side walls forming substantially a box section, a center bearing on the upper of said chords, a center post con- 80 necting said chords, side bearings on the upper of said chords spaced from said center bearing, lightening holes in said upper chord intermediate the center and side bearings, struts adjacent said side bearings and connecting said chords, aligned 85 apertures in the spaced side walls intermediate the upper'and lower chords and between said lightening holes and said struts, said struts each having a brace extending longitudinally of said bolster and depending from said upper chord and forming reenforcing means for said lightening hole, the lower edge of each of said braces merging into its respective strut adjacent the top thereof and disposed wholly above said apertures, aligned apertures in said side walls addacent said center bearing and disposed intermediate the top and bottom chords of said bolster and wholly below said lower edge of said brace, whereby certain of said 'aligned apertures may selectively permit the unrestricted passage of brake rigging through the bolster.

WILLIAM C. HEDGCOCK.

CERTIFICATE oF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,029,822., February 4, 1936.

WILLIAM C. HEDCCoCK.

Itis hereby Certified that error eppears in the printed specification of the'above numbered patent requiring Correction as followsz'y Page l, second column, line 53, for the numeral "61" read 160; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with -this correction therein that the same may Conform to the recordof the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 17th day of March, A. D. 1936.

Leslie Iezerl (S651) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

